Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) CACHE Level 3 Diploma

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Study Mode: Full-time Course Level: 3

If you are interested in the education, learning and care of children, young people and their families, the Early Years Educator Level 3 Diploma qualification will give you skills and knowledge to work in a professional capacity in a variety of settings.

The qualification is suitable for anyone wishing to become a qualified early years' practitioner or progress into areas such as early years' teaching, primary teaching, nursing or social work.

The course offers you the opportunity to develop both your academic and personal skills with study sessions in the classroom and opportunities to put your learning into practice on a work experience placement. Work experience is compulsory and is 40% of the total course, this aspect of the course must be passed to enable progression.

Successful completion of the course will enable you to progress on to the second year diploma which will give you a licence to practice and enable you to work unsupervised or in a supervisory capacity in the child care and early years' sector.

We have good success rates for this qualification and receive positive feedback on the course with many of our students are offered jobs through their work experience placements or successfully obtain places at a range of universities.

Past students often return to us to complete their Foundation Degree and some have gone on to become teachers, social workers, children's centre managers, lecturers and assessors as well as attaining various roles within Wolverhampton City Council's children's services departments.

Throughout your course you will have opportunities to enhance your learning by hearing from guest speakers from across the sector including children's centre staff and managers, health staff, safeguarding professionals and employment agencies, as well as getting advice and guidance on UCAS and university applications.

This is a two year full-time course.

To access the course you are required to have:

Four or more GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including English and Math OR
A good pass in a Level 2 early years qualification, including completion of all placement requirements, plus English at GCSE grade C/4 or above and Maths at a Grade 3

You are also required to have:

Practical experience within an Early Years environment
Satisfactory DBS check
Minimum 90% attendance from previous academic establishment
Satisfactory references

During this course you will study the following modules:

Positive relationships
Positive environments
Child development
Professional practice
Child protection
Promoting children's rights and safeguarding of young people
Play and learning
Developing learning activities that will support the implementation of the requirements of the EYFS and National Curriculum
Relating theoretical perspectives to the practices of supporting children to learn and develop
Developing a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates your ability to work as a professional in a professional environment
In addition, you will get the chance to take part in additional activities to enhance your learning throughout the year. There will be opportunities to visit universities for taster days and to develop skills through working in the community with families at the ever-popular Family Fun Days developed by our learners for the Cosford Air Museum. There will be many visiting speakers and visits from agencies who will support you to develop skills to successfully apply for jobs within the sector.

By studying this course you will:

Develop an understanding of the importance of engendering and promoting positive relationships with children and adults
Learn how child development and learning strategies are closely linked
Develop an appreciation of the importance of praise, encouragement and challenge for children
Develop your confidence in providing meaningful and enjoyable activities across a variety of age ranges
Understand how safeguarding is applied in the early years' sector
Improve your observation and reflective skills whilst working with children
Gain valuable team working and communication skills by taking part in group displays and presentations

As this is a technical qualification there will be controlled assessments that take place under exam conditions. You will be continually assessed throughout the programme - both during and at the end of each unit - through written assignments, observation and simulated practical assessments.

40% of the course will be assessed through your work experience which is a compulsory part of the course - you must achieve a minimum of 800 hours in a variety of work settings to enable you to gain a license to practice.

You will have a trained assessor who will work with you and the settings that you go into to assess your ability to work with children and other professionals.

As part of the Governments requirements for all Early Years Educators to have both Maths and English either GCSE grade C or 4/5 or functional skills level 2 you will be required to continue with both subjects and depending on the level you are taking there will also be exams for these aspects of your programme of study.

The skills you will learn from this course will enable you to:

Progress onto the second year to gain a full diploma before pursuing a career in early years' education in a variety of roles including as a qualified classroom / teaching assistant or early years practitioner working in settings or in the community with children and their family
Progress to a Foundation Degree and continue to study whilst you work
University degree

Throughout the course you will be supported by fully qualified teachers who will provide training in Early Years, as well as observe and assess your performance in each unit. Your tutors will check and mark your work and give you regular feedback. They will also support you to develop a portfolio of work and put together your CV or personal statement.